If you’re using your garage for work, home projects, or as a space to park your cars, a durable floor coating is essential. A professional epoxy system is tough and can withstand hot tires, oil, and chemical spillage, scraping, and abrasions.
Full-color flake options are available for a custom flooring look and a non-slip media can be added to reduce the risk of a slippery surface. A clear topcoat is then applied to lock in the flakes and ensure durability. This is a fantastic article to read.
Strength
When applied correctly by a coatings professional, epoxy floor coatings are very strong. They withstand damage from car traffic and the weight of tools, ladders, and boxes, as well as chemicals and stains.
Epoxy, polyurea, and polyaspartic coatings are designed to resist a wide variety of substances without staining or absorbing them, including motor oil, grease, gasoline, battery acid, and other caustic car chemicals. This makes them ideal for the garage.
It’s very important to fully prep the concrete substrate before applying a garage floor coating. This process includes thoroughly cleaning the concrete, testing the slab for moisture (which can cause coating failure), and sanding down the concrete to promote proper adhesion. If this step isn’t done correctly, the coating can crack, peel, and bubble.
Durability
There are a number of different durable garage floor coatings. Some, such as polyurea, are cured quickly and are very strong and resistant to damage. They’re also easy to apply. Commercial quality DIY kits are now available that allow a single person to apply a complete system in one day.
Other durable options include quartz-filled epoxy and concrete stains. These acid-based chemical stains penetrate the concrete and react with it to provide long-lasting color. They aren’t as thick as epoxy coatings, however, and are not as resistant to damage.
A good cleaning and maintenance program is key to maintaining the beauty of a garage floor coating. This is especially important when it comes to avoiding acidic cleaners and vinegar, which can degloss the finish of an epoxy or other coating over time.
Chemical Resistant
The most durable epoxy floor coatings provide a tough layer of protection that resists damage from chemicals. They are also resistant to rust stains, oil, and gas spills, and even burn marks from welding or metal fabrication.
Unlike epoxy paint, which relies on the evaporation of water or solvent, true epoxy treatment requires curing to create its chemically resistant resin coating. Fully preparing the concrete surface by diamond grinding, removing all contaminants, and opening the concrete pores is essential to this process.
When cleaning the garage flooring, avoid using abrasive cleaning materials or harsh scrubbing pads. Acids in cleaners like citrus or vinegar can slowly degloss the floor coating over time. Also, for best results, rinse the area with a neutralizer or clean, clear water after each use.
Easy to Clean
It’s pretty easy to keep garage floor coatings clean. They are completely impervious so any spills, stains or oily residue stays on top of the coating instead of getting into and staining concrete. All that’s needed is a mop and some soapy water.
If you’re looking for something even easier to maintain, consider a fast-curing polyurea polyaspartic system that can be driven on the same day it is applied. This is a great option for busy households that don’t want to wait.
Just remember to sweep up any dirt, mud, or snow before driving on your new garage floor coating. Otherwise, the dirt could get stuck underneath your tires and leave tire marks. These can be hard to get off if they stay for too long.
Affordable
The cost of a high-quality coating starts at around $6 per square foot. The price can go up from there depending on the type of resin used, how much color flake is applied in the base coat, and if additional topcoats are required. It also depends on the size of your garage and whether you’d like to include verticals/stem walls or aprons in the project.
Epoxy flooring is highly durable, provides excellent chemical and abrasion resistance, and is aesthetically pleasing. It also prevents concrete dusting, and it reflects overhead and natural light to make the garage look brighter and more inviting.
Paint is a quick and affordable option, but it doesn’t provide the durability of an epoxy floor coating. Neither does concrete staining, which penetrates the concrete and reacts to it to provide solid color but doesn’t offer any protection. Next blog post.
